THOUSANDS of commuters were left stranded in New York after a man got his hand stuck down a train toilet trying to retrieve his mobile phone.

Rush hour became flush hour last night after the man spent 90 minutes with his arm wedged in the U-bend trying to reach the phone he had dropped.

The 6.19pm train had just left New York's Grand Central Station when a passenger alerted the crew to the man's plight. They tried desperately to free the man's arm from the stainless steel toilet. Then police and firefighters were called.

The train was brought to a halt at the city's Fordham station. Other trains were unable to pass, and the knock-on effect meant thousands of commuters were delayed.

Firefighters eventually had to dismantle the entire toilet. The man was treated at a local hospital but soon released.